Breast Lift
The breast lift is designed to lift sagging breasts and bring the nipple from an abnormally low position to a position of optimal breast anatomy. A good candidate for mastopexy is a woman with good breast size but sagging breasts due to aging or stretching after pregnancy.
As a general rule, breast size will decrease approximately ½ to one full cup size after the mastopexy due to the tightening of the skin alone. The improved form of the formerly sagging breasts provide a significant improvement overall. The potential loss of volume can be counteracted with a simultaneous breast augmentation with excellent results.
Breast Lift Pre-Operative Care
Routine laboratory testing is performed and photographs are taken to assess post-operative effectiveness. Mammograms are ordered in all patients 30 years of age and over in order to detect any possible abnormalities and to serve as a baseline for post-operative comparison.
No aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar drugs should be taken within two weeks of breast lift surgery. These medications can cause serious excess bleeding during and after the operation. If you have any questions about drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter preparations and natural herbs, please call us at (201) 225-1101.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight of the night before your surgery. This includes coffee and juice in the morning. Oral medications can be taken with a sip of water.
Breast Lift Operation
You should be at the office surgicenter or hospital at least 90 minutes prior to your scheduled surgical start time. Bring all paperwork from the office with you, as this will save time on the day of surgery.
You will be seen pre-operatively and markings will be drawn to guide the surgery. This is one of the most important parts of the surgery so please be patient while they are drawn. You will then be brought into the operating room and given anesthesia. Incisions will be made along the marks. In most cases this will result in a scar around the areola, then vertically down to the bottom of the breast, and then under the breast. In some cases the scar can be confined to the areola or the areola and the vertical segment. The excess skin is removed and the incisions are closed.
Drains may be placed in the breasts which will be removed within 24 hours. After closure of the incisions a fluffy dressing is placed and you will be sent to the recovery room. Most patients will go home several hours after surgery.
Breast Lift Post-Operative Care
Keep the dressing on until seen in the office or, if you stay in the hospital one night, your room. The dressings will be changed and the drains removed. Keep exertion to a minimum for two weeks. Take the pain medicine as prescribed. The scars may be noticeable for several months but will fade dramatically in most cases by 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please confirm your pre-operative appointment with our office. At this visit, you will undergo a history and physical examination and Dr. Moskovitz will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding your surgical procedure. The surgical fee will also be collected at this visit. Pre-operative laboratory tests (blood work) will be done at least one week before the operation. If the procedure is to be done at the hospital, you will be sent to the hospital for a pre-operative interview with an anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist will review your medical history with you and determine what type of anesthesia is most appropriate. Any laboratory (blood work) or diagnostic examinations will also be performed during this visit. A mammogram may be needed and can be done at this time also. Some of these tests can be covered by insurance as part of your annual physical. The hospital and anesthesiology fees will also be collected during this visit. Please arrange to have someone drive you home and to receive post-operative surgery instructions.Do not eat or drink anything, (this includes coffee, candy and chewing gum) after 11:00PM the night before surgery.
Avoid aspirin and smoking for two weeks before and after the surgery.
